Squash players at the Old Patesians Club would be well advised not to overdo the Christmas and new year celebrations.

That’s because for seven days from day one of 2018 they will be taking part in a series of sponsored challenges to raise enough money to install a defibrillator at the club.

The challenges will test their squash skills, agility and their running stamina as they look to raise upwards of £1,200 and possibly as much as £2,000.

Squash player Brad Edwards, who is also a level 1 coach, said: “It’s pretty important for the club to have a defibrillator.

“We all know that things can go wrong and to have a defibrillator would definitely be a really good thing for the club as a whole. It’s also something that could be used by the local community in an emergency.”

Those squash players trying to raise money will not find it easy though, as you’d expect of an event organised by Gary Powell, the club’s head squash coach who oversees the junior and senior squash sections.

Anyone taking part is required to set personals bests in a wide range of challenges… and failure means they won’t be collecting any money!

“Each junior squash wizard has personal bests at skills and fitness which I use to monitor their progress and helps them set future goals,” explained Powell.

“So hopefully each player will get sponsored so much for each new PB they set during the week.

“On January 1st each year, we hold our annual run to the Trig point at the top of Leckhampton Hill – some 600 feet of climb in just over a mile from the clubhouse!

So some will go for their first PB running to the Trig.”

Other challenges – which are open to anyone who has a recorded PB at the club – include running a lap of the Everest Road playing fields, which is 684 metres, and running a 200m, while there are other squash-related best scores such as targeting bottles to improve accuracy, number of hits into the service box within five minutes and the figure of eight challenge.